Heat-massage device for physical therapy

ABSTRACT

A portable heat-massage device for physical therapy includes a housing carrying a vibrator motor, electrical circuitry and controls for operating the motor and a heating pad carried by the housing. A pair of articulated gripping arms of substantially the same width as the housing extend from opposite ends thereof for wrapping the device about a body portion of the person to be treated. The inner surfaces of the arms and housing and the heating pad are provided with mating snap-fasteners so that the heating pad can be removably attached to the inner surfaces of the arms and housing, thereby lining the same and providing for direct application of heat to the body portion of the person being massaged. The device can be operated from its own battery power source or from an external power source.

United States Patent 1 Duty [ 1 June 3, 1975 HEAT-MASSAGE DEVICE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY [76] Inventor: Bruce lvan Doty, 3039 Freeland Rd., Central Point, Oreg. 97501 [22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 454,139

[52] U.S. Cl 128/241; 128/36 [51] Int. Cl A61h 29/00 [58] Field of Search 128/241, 24.2, 41, 35, 128/36 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,574,945 11/1951 Werner 128/36 2,779,328 1/1957 Grossi 128/241 2,792,830 5/1957 Dacey 128/241 2,943,620 7/1960 Sibert 128/241 3,710,784 l/1973 Taylor 128/242 Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmKlarquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston [57] ABSTRACT A portable heat-massage device for physical therapy includes a housing carrying a vibrator motor, electrical circuitry and controls for operating the motor and a heating pad carried by the housing. A pair of articulated gripping arms of substantially the same width as the housing extend from opposite ends thereof for wrapping the device about'a body portion of the person to be treated. The inner surfaces of the arms and housing and the heating pad are provided with mating snap-fasteners so that the heating pad can be removably attached to the inner surfaces of the arms and housing, thereby lining the same and providing for direct application of heat to the body portion of the person being massaged. The device can be operated from its own battery power source or from an external power source.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENXEBJM m5 4 32 FIG 2 nov FIG. 4

FIG. 3

HEAT-MASSAGE DEVICE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combination heat massage unit that can be applied and affixed directly to the body portion being treated.

2. Description of the Prior Art Combination heating pad vibrator devices are well known in the prior art. However, none of the known such prior devices can be directly attached to the body part being treated and held there by the unit itself. Also none of such prior units are constructed so that the heating pad portion of the unit can be quickly and readily removed from and attached to the vibrator portion of the unit for cleaning and maintenance or for use of either the vibrator or heating pad portion of the unit apart from the other.

Examples of prior combination heating-massage units are shown in, for example, Ross US. Pat. No. 2,800,897, McElwee U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,009, ZiffU.S. Pat. No. 3,062,203, and Murphy US. Pat. No. 2,852,020.

In view of the foregoing, there is an apparent need for a combination heat-vibrator unit that is relatively portable and that can be readily affixed to various portions of the body. Such a unit would have particular utility for athletes and others participating in sporting events, such as baseball pitchers, football players, tennis players and the like, who could apply such a device to sore body parts during rest periods in the course of the game or match being played.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a combination heating-massage unit is provided which is capable of being affixed and held to the body part being treated by the unit itself. Other features of the heat-massage unit of the invention are: light-weight construction, portability, easy operation, A.C. or battery operation, and easy separation of the vibrator and heating pad portions of the unit for cleaning, maintenance, or separate use.

The foregoing features are embodied in a heatmassage unit having a lightweight shell-type housing which carries the vibrator motor, the elecrical circuitry for operating the motor and the heating pad, and the necessary controls for the vibrator and heating pad. The unit is characterized by a pair of wide articulated arms. These arms extend from hinged connections at opposite ends of the shell housing which enable their outward swinging movement. Hinged elbows midway along the length of the arms enable inward hinging movement of the outer arm sections, whereby a body part can be inserted in the spacebetween the arms and the arms then wrapped about the body part to be treated. The pad itself is attached preferably by snapfasteners directly to the inner surfaces of the arms and housing, which together define a generally U-shaped structure when the arms are parallel to one another. In one preferred embodiment of the unit, the housing carries a battery pack and an electrical circuit that can ve switched so that the motor and heating pad can be perated either from an external A.C. source of electric power or from the self-contained D.C. battery source.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description which follows, such description proceeding with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a heat-massage unit in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the heat-massage unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the heat-massage unit of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram of an electrical circuit suitable for use in operating and controlling the vibrator and heat elements of the invention.

DETAIALED DESCRIPTION With reference to the drawings, the heat-massage unit of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes a plastic, fibreglas, or thin metal shell housing 10 of generally rectangular shape. Such shell has a height just sufficient to carry within it an electrically-operated vibrator motor 11 and the electrical circuitry and controls necessary to operate such motor and an associated heating pad.

From opposite ends of the housing 10, a pair of articulated gripping arms 12, 13 extend unidirectionally and normally at generally right angles to the housing. Thus the arms and housing together define an open-ended generally U-shaped space 14 therebetween into which a body part such as a shoulder, elbow, knee or the like can be inserted for treatment. From FIG. 2 it will be noted that each arm is of substantial width, the same width as the housing 10. Each arm is also preferably constructed of the same material as the housing. The housing and arms are sized, of course, so as to fit about the human body portions to which the unit is intended to be applied, such as the previously mentioned shoulder, elbow, arm, knee, neck or other body part. Each arm is divided into two parts including an inner arm portion 12a, 13a hinged to the housing and an outer arm portion 12b, 13b, joined together at a hinged elbow 16.

A first hinging means comprising the piano hinge 18 connects the inner arm portions 12a, 13a to the housing 10 in a manner enabling movement of the inner arms from their normally downwardly-extending positions shown in full lines in FIG. 1, outwardly through a substantial arc, such as 45, to the position shown in phantom lines with respect to inner arm portion 12a in FIG. 1.

A second hinging means comprising another piano hinge at the elbow l6 interconnects the inner and outer arm portions 12a, 13a, 12b, 13b. Elbow hinges 16 enable movement of the outer arms from their normal positions in alignment with the inner arms as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 inwardly to gripping positions through substantial arcs of, for example, 45 as shown in phantom lines with respect to outer arm 12b in FIG. 1. This articulated arm construction enables insertion of a body part into the space 14 between the opposed arms and then wrapping the opposed arms about the body part within the space to attach the entire heatmassage unit to the body part to be treated, where it remains until the treatment is completed.

An electrical heating pad 20, shown in FIG. 1, lines the inner surfaces of the arms and housing. It is removably attached to the arms and housing by mating snapfasteners 22 affixed to corresponding portions of the pad, arms and housing. This removable feature of the pad enables cleaning and maintenance of the pad and vibrator unit and also enables separate use of the pad and vibrator portion of the unit. Of course, if the pad is to be adapted for separate use, it is provided with a separate electrical cord or its own power source.

As has been mentioned, the heating pad may carry its own electrical cord for connection to an external electrical outlet. However, for compactness the pad preferably has an electrical plug 23 for direct plugging into an electrical receptacle 24 in the housing so that if an external power source is to be used, only one electrical cord, shown at 26, need be used. The cord 26 carries a plug at 27 which can be plugged into a receptacle 28 at one end of the housing as shown in FIG. 2.

The housing also carries suitable controls for controlling the operation of the heating pad and the vibrator motor including the on/off toggle switch 30 for the motor and the rheostat control 32 for controlling the heat output of the pad. Alternatively, a three or more position switch can be used in place of the rheostat control.

A further advantageous feature of the unit, which may be optional, is a self-contained source of electrical power provided by a battery pack within the housing. For such purpose, a third switch 34 is provided at the same end of the housing as the socket 28 for switching the operation of the unit from an external 1 10 volt A.C. source of electrical power to the self-contained D.C. battery source of power within the housing.

Referring to FIG. 4, a suitable electrical circuit, carried by the housing, is shown for operating the heatmassage unit on either its self-contained battery source of power or alternatively from an external source. Such circuit has two subcircuits, including a first subcircuit 36 leading from a source of external 110 volt A.C. electrical power, and a second subcircuit 38 leading from the battery source 40 of electrical power. The first subcircuit 36 includes a small step down transformer in the l 10 volt plug 27. Alternatively, a voltage dropping resistor could be used. The first subcircuit also includes a diode full wave rectifier 44 which converts the A.C. signal to a DC. signal. Leads from the rectifier 44 conduct the signal to the parallel motor circuit 46 and heating pad circuit 48. The battery subcircuit 38 includes leads which intercept the leads from the rectifier for transmission of DC. power from the battery pack to the motor and heat circuits when the selector switch 34 is properly positioned.

Having illustrated and described what is presently a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A heat-massage device for physical therapy comprising:

a housing,

a pair of articulated gripping arms extending unidirectionally from opposite ends of said housing,

said gripping arms and said housing having substantial width dimensions and defining an open-ended space for receiving a body portion of a person to V which said device is applied,

said gripping arms being hinged at their respective connections to said housing and at elbows intermediate their lengths to provide hinged inner and outer arm portions for wrapping said arms about said body portion,

heating pad means lining the body-contacting inner surfaces of said arms and housing,

and vibrator means carried within said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said heating pad means is removably attached to said arms and housing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said heating pad means and said arms and housing include mating snapfastener means for removably attaching said heating pad means to said arms and housing.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each said arm includes a first hinging means hingedly connecting said inner arm portion to said housing and enabling movement of said inner arm portion from a first position at substantially right angles to said housing outwardly to a second position through a substantial arc of movement, and a second hinging means at said elbow enabling movement of said outer arm portion relative to said inner arm portion from a first position wherein said inner and outer arm portions are aligned inwardly to a second position through a substantial arc, whereby said arms can be wrapped about a body portion to be treated.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said heating pad means and said vibrator means are electrically operated, said housing providing control means for selectively controlling the operation of said vibrator and heating pad means.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said pad means and said housing means include mating electrical connections and said housing means includes means for connecting said vibrator and pad means to an external source of electricity.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said pad means and said vibrator means are electrically operated, said housing containing electrical circuit means including said vibrator means and said pad means, said circuit means including a first circuit portion providing a battery electric power source and a second circuit portion providing means for connection to an external source of electrical power and selector switch means for switching between said battery source and said external source.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said housing and said pair of articulated gripping arms define an open-ended generally U-shaped structure defining an opening and space within said opening and between said arms when said arms extend generally at right angles to said housing, each said inner arm portion being movable outwardly about its hinge connection to said housing through a substantial arc from its generally right angle disposition with respect to said housing to increase the effective width of at least a portion of said space, each said outer arm portion being movable inwardly about its elbow hinge connection to said inner arm portion through a substantial arc from a generally straight alignment with said inner arm portion for decreasing the effective width of said opening, means for removably attaching said heating pad means to the and said heating pad means, electrical control circuit means within said housing for controlling the operation of said vibrator means and heating pad means, and means on said housing for connecting said control circuit means to an external source of electrical power. 

1. A heat-massage device for physical therapy comprising: a housing, a pair of articulated gripping arms extending unidirectionally from opposite ends of said housing, said gripping arms and said housing having substantial width dimensions and defining an open-ended space for receiving a body portion of a person to which said device is applied, said gripping arms being hinged at their respective connections to said housing and at elbows intermediate their lengths to provide hinged inner and outer arm portions for wrapping said arms about said body portion, heating pad means lining the body-contacting inner surfaces of said arms and housing, and vibrator means carried within said housing.
 1. A heat-massage device for physical therapy comprising: a housing, a pair of articulated gripping arms extending unidirectionally from opposite ends of said housing, said gripping arms and said housing having substantial width dimensions and defining an open-ended space for receiving a body portion of a person to which said device is applied, said gripping arms being hinged at their respective connections to said housing and at elbows intermediate their lengths to provide hinged inner and outer arm portions for wrapping said arms about said body portion, heating pad means lining the body-contacting inner surfaces of said arms and housing, and vibrator means carried within said housing.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said heating pad means is removably attached to said arms and housing.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said heating pad means and said arms and housing include mating snap-fastener means for removably attaching said heating pad means to said arms and housing.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein each said arm includes a first hinging means hingedly connecting said inner arm portion to said housing and enabling movement of said inner arm portion from a first position at substantially right angles to said housing outwardly to a second position through a substantial arc of movement, and a second hinging means at said elbow enabling movement of said outer arm portion relative to said inner arm portion from a first position wherein said inner and outer arm portions are aligned inwardly to a second position through a substantial arc, whereby said arms can be wrapped about a body portion to be treated.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said heating pad means and said vibrator means are electrically operated, said housing providing control means for selectively controlling the operation of said vibrator and heating pad means.
 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said pad means and said housing means include mating electrical connections and said housing means includes means for connecting said vibrator and pad means to an external source of electricity.
 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said pad means and said vibrator means are electrically operated, said housing containing electrical circuit means including said vibrator means and said pad means, said circuit means including a first circuit portion providing a battery electric power source and a second circuit portion providing means for connection to an external source of electrical power and selector switch means for switching between said battery source and said external source.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said housing and said pair of articulated gripping arms define an open-ended generally U-shaped structure defining an opening and space within said opening and between said arms when said arms extend generally at right angles to said housing, each said inner arm portion being movable outwardly about its hinge connection to said housing through a substantial arc from its generally right angle disposition with respect to said housing to increase the effective width of at least a portion of said space, each said outer arm portion being movable inwardly about its elbow hinge connection to said inner arm portion through a substantial arc from a generally straight alignment with said inner arm portion for decreasing the effective width of said opening, means for removably attaching said heating pad means to the inner surfaces of said arms and housing, and means carried by said housing for selectively controlling the operation of said vibrator means and said heating pad means. 